Walking Tour: St Peter’s Church Graveyard*

* St Peter’s Church would like to thank Sophie Brooks, Nathan Morris, and the University of Chester, for their

help in producing this leaflet.

1. Eleanor Rigby

2. John McKenzie

3. George Toogood Smith

4. Bob Paisley OBE

5. The location of the stage where the Quarrymen performed on July 6 1957 (now part

of the playing field of Bishop Martin School)

6. Please DO NOT cross this line out of respect for our neighbours at Bishop Martin

School

The grave of Eleanor Rigby is one of the

most visited graves in Liverpool,

attracting visitors from around the

world.

Is this the “Eleanor Rigby” from Paul’s

song? Well, possibly!

Although Paul chose the name

“Eleanor” after Eleanor Bron, his co-star

in Help!, he also admitted during a BBC

interview in 2009, that he may have

subconsciously remembered the name

from his time spent in the churchyard

with John during his youth.

Close to the grave of Eleanor Rigby lies

the grave of Martha and John McKenzie.

Could this be the Father McKenzie from

the song Eleanor Rigby? In Anthology,

Paul acknowledged that the graveyard

could have held some inspiration … but

the truth is that we’ll probably never

really know!

George Toogood Smith was the uncle of

John Lennon and lived with John at

Mendips until his death in 1955.

George taught John to draw and paint,

and bought him his first harmonica.

John was on holiday visiting family at

the time of his uncle’s death. George

left John a trench coat, which John wore

constantly during his time as an art

student.

Bob Paisley, OBE, is widely regarded as

one of the greatest football managers of

all time. During his nine years as

Manager of Liverpool FC he won 3

European Cups, a record that was only

matched in 2014, 6 First Division titles, 3

League Cups, 6 Charity Shields, 1 UEFA

Cup and 1 UEFA Supercup.

He won the Football Manager of the

Year award six times (1975-76, 1976-77,

1978-79, 1979-80, 1981-82, 1982-83),

was awarded the OBE in 1983 and was

an inaugural inductee into the English

Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

In 1957, none of these graves were yet

in the graveyard and the Fete took place

in this area, and also on the field that is

now part of Bishop Martin School’s

playing field. The location of the stage,

where the Quarrymen played, was just

beyond the hedge on the right-hand

side of this picture.

A copy of the programme for the Garden Fete at St Peter’s Church on July 6

1957. Paul watched the Quarrymen perform during the fete in the

afternoon, and then went over to the Church Hall after the Quarrymen’s

performance at 5.45pm. It was in the Hall that Ivan Vaughan introduced his

two friends, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, to each other and made

musical history.

She Loves You …

It was at St Peter’s Church Fete on July 6, 1957, that Ivan Vaughan introduced his friend Paul McCartney to

John Lennon – a meeting which changed the world.

John’s skiffle group, The Quarrymen, was booked to play two sets on the Church field (now part of Bishop

Martin Primary School) and later at a dance in the Church Hall across the road.

While waiting to play at the dance, John was introduced to Paul by Ivan. In just 20 minutes, Paul

demonstrated his musical ability and even showed the impressed

Quarrymen how to tune their instruments. A few days later, Paul

accepted the invitation to join the Quarrymen. Of the meeting

John later famously commented: “That was the day, the day I met

Paul, that it started moving.”

In St Peter’s Churchyard is the grave of Eleanor Rigby, featured in

the 1966 Beatles’ song, and the grave of John’s uncle, George

Toogood Smith. After the breakdown of his parents’ marriage

when he was five, John lived in Woolton with Uncle George and

Aunt Mimi. It was George who brought John his first musical

instrument, a harmonica. While Aunt Mimi was a regular member of the Congregation, John’s visits to Church

were less frequent but he was a member of the youth group and sang occasionally in the choir.

We Love You …

St Peter’s Woolton welcomes visitors from all over the world. It is a magnificent building and one of the larger

parish Churches in Liverpool.

The original Church was built in 1826, on a site a little below the present building.

It held around 200 people.

The population of Woolton village grew steadily in the 19th

century and the

Church was felt to be too small. By 1885 matters came to a head and it was

decided that a new Church should be built. The foundation stone was laid in

1886 and it opened the following year.

The new Church was built from local sandstone – the same stone used for

Liverpool Cathedral – in the perpendicular style developed in the 15th

century.

St Peter’s Church, Woolton

Growing in love for God, each other,

and the world

The 90-foot high bell tower contains eight bells and is the highest point in

Liverpool with commanding views of Lancashire, Cheshire and the Welsh

hills.

Inside the building are many fine features and seating for almost 500

people.

The Church has a fine set of stained glass windows, all except two of which

were designed by the famous artist Charles Kempe. The two smaller

winders were removed from the original Church and were designed by William Morris.

He Loves You …

As befits the building, St Peter’s today is a lovely and flourishing Church proclaiming and bearing witness to the

people around about Jesus Christ and the God who loves them.

St Peter’s hosts the gravestone of Eleanor Rigby, one of the lonely people immortalised in song by John Lennon

and Paul McCartney. But what the Bible tells us again and again is that none of us is alone, none of us should

feel lonely, if we open ourselves up to God’s loving presence.

If you want to find out more about what God has done for us, and what we can do for Him, come along to one

of our services. We’d love to see you.

SERVICES:

Sundays

8.00am Holy Communion

This is a quiet, reflective service in the side chapel

10.30am Family Service

This is the main service at St Peter’s and there is provision for all

ages.

6.30pm Evening Service

There are a variety of services in the evening, include Café Church.

Thursdays

10.30am Holy Communion

This service takes place in the Centenary Rooms

For more details on all services, visit our website.

St Peter’s Church, Church Road, Woolton

Liverpool, Merseyside, UK, L25 6DA

Church Enquiries: Tel 0151 428 6810

www.stpeters-woolton.org.uk

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!